Pirate Radio chat on IRC (Internet Relay Chat)
Many pirate and other radio enthusiasts hang out on the #PirateRadio IRC (Internet Relay Chat) channel.
This is a place where you can chat with fellow listeners, as well as
share monitoring catches in real time.

Joining the chat is fairly easy. You can use the online chat below until you get an IRC client.
The Java chat requires a browser with Java enabled.

In addition to #PirateRadio you may also want to visit #WUNClub for discussions
related to utility station monitoring on shortwave.

Next, you'll need to tell your client to connect to the Zirc network, which is where the
#pirateradio channel is hosted. Some clients will already have the addresses for the Zirc
servers built in. If so, select one of them. If not, you'll need to add one or more.

irc.starchat.net is a good default server to use.

Next, have your client connect to the #pirateradio channel. Once you're there, feel free to introduce
yourself if you're new to the channel.

There are usually a few dozen people connected to the channel at one time, but not everyone may be
around, lots of folks keep connected to the channel 24 hours a day, and maybe away from the
computer (or sleeping!). The bulk of the users are from Europe and the USA, but there are users
from other parts of the world as well

There has been some concern that when you're on IRC, others can see where you are from,
based on your domain name.
There is an easy way around it, however.
Simply request a virtual host feature of ZIRC. You can make up your own host name.
So, for example, someone could appear to be WBNY@RodentRevolution.com
You need a registered nick to do this so, while connected to
#PirateRadio (or another channel on ZIRC) type:

/msg nickserv register

Where is the password for your nick you wish to use (to prevent others from using it) and is your email address. You'll get a confirmation email from ZIRC you will need to reply to.
Use:

/msg nickserv help commands

to see what else you can do with nickserv
Once your nick is registered, you can then request a vhost (virtual host).
Send this message to the ZIRCServ bot:

/msg ZiRCServ vhost request

where is your requested domain name.
Someone at ZIRC will need to manually approve it, which may take a few hours or even a day.
Once they do, you should be all set.
You will now appear to be coming from that host, and your ISP will be completely hidden
from other users. Note that *you* will still see your normal IP address / domain name,
but other users will not.

We've just created the
Online Pirate Radio Logbook Database
where pirate enthusiasts can enter, view, and search loggings of shortwave pirate stations.
This is based on the highly sucessful
Spy Numbers Database
which in 7 years has collected around 50,000 loggings!
The Pirate Radio Database is new, so be sure to stop by and enter your logs.